Queen's University Vice-chancellor, Professor Peter Gregson and Queen's Pro-Vice-chancellor, Professor Gerry McCormac, visited Fermanagh last Friday, 25th May, to meet with leading industry figures, school principals and other opinion formers from the area.

The professors also met with the new Environment Minister, Arlene Foster at a lunch for University stakeholders in the Killyhevlin Hotel. There was an apology from the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew.

Earlier in the day, at a separate meeting in the hotel, which took the form of a 'question and answer' question, professors Gregson and McCormac hosted a round table discussion with school principals and those with influence locally to discuss better ways of working together.

Professor Gregson informed them that more than 1,250 students from Fermanagh were enrolled at Queen's.

The Queen's delegation visited the headquarters of the Quinn Group in Derrylin.

The Quinn Group, along with Acheson & Glover, Tracey Concrete, Lough Shore Development Ltd and James Balfour & Sons Ltd are among several leading businesses based in the Fermanagh area to have been involved in successful research collaborations with Queen's.

Reacting to the visit, Professor Gregson said, "Today's event was about enhancing our relationship with the West. Queen's already has strong links with this area, and we want to build on these.

"Among the 333 new students from the Enniskillen area last year," he went on, "was one of the University's top entrants, Emma Foy. Emma, a former student of Mount Lourdes Grammar School, won a Queen's Entrance Scholarship, and is now studying Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition with Professional Studies at Queen's."

His audience was also told that Queen's University is now a member of the Russell Group, the Ivy League of UK universities, and was an international centre of academic excellence rooted at the heart of the local community.

"In Fermanagh, as in other parts of Northern Ireland," he went on, "our graduates contribute in areas ranging from healthcare to law, from engineering to education and from culture to business and commerce.

"There are many ways in which we at Queen's and our key stakeholders in Fermanagh can work together for mutual benefit. We already have many important connections and I hope that this visit will help them to grow and flourish in the future."

Also attending today's event were local MLAs, Tommy Gallagher and Gerry McHugh and Councillor John O'Kane, the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council.